Lifting/Cardio Timing & Benefits

[mateus]

This is more curiosity than anything else. Interested in different peoples preference, as well as what they BELIEVE to be the scientific reason for their choice. The goal is year round leanness while adding size slowly. No contest in sight or desire to get much below 7-9% BF. Just the rippy athletic look year round.

OPTION A) Early morning fasted cardio between 5-6am and then weights around 8PM.

OPTION B) Cardio at noon after 2 meals and then weights at 8pm.

OPTION C) Early morning fasted cardio and then weights around noon.

OPTION D) Weights around noon then cardio around 8pm.

Thoughts? Other than preference, does it really matter THAT much?

[LG1]

Option A, out of convenience...

[mateus]

LG, if schedule was not a factor and all options are equally feasible from one to the next would you still choose A?

[LG1]

LG, if schedule was not a factor and all options are equally feasible from one to the next would you still choose A?

Yeah, I subscribe to having lots of time between your cardio session and weight training session if done on the same day. That's what I am currently doing myself. I also bought into the idea that doing cardio fasted especially if carbs are kept lower the night before may force the body to tap into fats a sa primary fuel source for that morning cardio session. Plus, fasted morning cardio is what Skip had me do :-)

[mateus]

Plus, fasted morning cardio is what Skip had me do :-)

Enough said lol. So if you lift later in the evening, do you take stimulants at all before?

[-AJA14-]

Option E.

Cardio on off days.

Also on Option A, how do you get enough sleep. If I start lifting at 8, I won't get to bed til 1 am.

[LG1]

Enough said lol. So if you lift later in the evening, do you take stimulants at all before?

Good question :-) I am very sensitive to stims. I have a small cup of coffee at about 3pm on days I lift in the evening.
I am a believer in nootropics, so I will have some L-Tyrosine and other stuff in my pre or intra WO drink.

[LG1]

Option E.

Cardio on off days.

Also on Option A, how do you get enough sleep. If I start lifting at 8, I won't get to bed til 1 am.

FIVE hours! Why?

[mateus]

Option E.

Cardio on off days.

Also on Option A, how do you get enough sleep. If I start lifting at 8, I won't get to bed til 1 am.

FIVE hours! Why?

LOL. Yeah that is a concern on Option A for me too. I am usually back home from the gym by 9:30pm. I will eat a full meal around 10:15-10:30 then shower and bed. I am lucky if I'm asleep by 11:30 and on treadmill downstairs by 6am. Its not TOO bad but not the easiest for me.

For those reasons I am thinking of Option B. This allows me to go HIIT 2-3 days a week with food in my stomach and then 8 hours until I lift.

Option D is the one that keeps me awake too long. Cardio at night wakes me up big time.

[LKQSJH]

Option C is what I do currently. I have no science behind it but I like it. Cardio sucks anytime of the day so get it over with first thing then I get some food and coffee in and by noon I'm ready to hit the gym hard. I used to do more of option A but I am just so much more tired and unmotivated after being at work 8-9 hours. Getting in at lunch breaks the day up for me.

**edited, i used to do option A. I had C twice**

[mateus]

Option C is what I do currently. I have no science behind it but I like it. Cardio sucks anytime of the day so get it over with first thing then I get some food and coffee in and by noon I'm ready to hit the gym hard. I used to do more of option C but I am just so much more tired and unmotivated after being at work 8-9 hours. Getting in at lunch breaks the day up for me.

Option C is what I do now too. I like it very much because of the fact that I can go during my lunch hour and break up my day. And then when I get off work I know I am completely done with everything. My son just joined my gym and wants me to train him. That has us in the gym at 8pm. I have been going back and forth with what I will do. Continue my schedule and just train him at night (no lifting for me) or do I start lifting with him at 8pm. If I do, I would need to move the cardio stuff around. Looking at the options and what others do and what their thoughts are. Thanks for the input.

[LKQSJH]

Option C is what I do now too. I like it very much because of the fact that I can go during my lunch hour and break up my day. And then when I get off work I know I am completely done with everything. My son just joined my gym and wants me to train him. That has us in the gym at 8pm. I have been going back and forth with what I will do. Continue my schedule and just train him at night (no lifting for me) or do I start lifting with him at 8pm. If I do, I would need to move the cardio stuff around. Looking at the options and what others do and what their thoughts are. Thanks for the input.

I'm in a way different boat because my kids are young and i want to spend time with them when i get off work instead of being in the gym. If your son is interested in lifting, i would make the effort to work out with him. You know every kid wants to out do the old man on something so will motivate him and you two can have fun together. I know people that have had luck with doing "IF' and doing their fasted cardio during the lunch hour then going back to lift later after a couple meals. This may allow you to sleep in a bit more and still break up the work day.

[-AJA14-]

FIVE hours! Why?

2 hours to lift, 3 hours for me to fall asleep after.

[hilly]

Option e

Early morning pump session for a body part using giant sets etc, higher volume with maybe 5-10 mins HIT if needed

8pm heavy ass weights



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[LG1]

2 hours to lift, 3 hours for me to fall asleep after.

Everyone is different. I am so tired after morning cardio and full work day that I pass out no problem after training at night.